Megan Guarnier wins inaugural Women's WorldTour as Jolien D'Hoore takes Madrid Challenge
The American became the first winner of the new UCI format after the final event in Madrid
Having taken a bronze medal in the omnium at the Rio Olympics last month, Belgian woman Jolien D’hoore won today’s Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta. The Wiggle-High5 rider emerged from the bunch, apparently to lead out Australian teammate Chloe Hosking, but managed to stay clear ahead of both Hosking and Marta Bastianelli (Alé-Cipollini) in third.
The race was the final event of the inaugural Women’s WorldTour which was won by American Megan Guarnier, herself aggressive in the race, bringing a late break to heel on the final 5.8km lap of the 87km race.
>>> Bradley Wiggins says ‘no excuse’ for Lizzie Armitstead’s missed anti-doping controls
The race was aggressive and entertaining throughout, the smaller teams enlivening the day, as they fought to show themselves and take intermediate sprint points, available on all but the opening and closing of the 15 laps.
Numerous breakaways managed to get clear but were unable to establish any meaningful advantage, and as the race headed towards its conclusion, the bigger teams came to the front and began to dominate.
Only then, with just 20km remaining, did two riders manage to go clear, Claudia Lichtenberg (Lotto-Soudal) and Simona Frapporti (Hitec Products) managing to build a gap of 35 seconds.
Behind them D’hoore’s Wiggle-High5 team played a canny game throughout, only showing themselves on the penultimate lap to assist in the chase. It was, however Boels-Dolmans who led the race into the final tight corner heading into the expected sprint finish.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Molly Weaver (Liv-Plantur) and double junior World Champion Lucy Garner (Wiggle-High5) were the only British riders to take the start, both were involved in the chase, Weaver especially visible bringing the numerous breaks under control.
Guarnier’s overall win comes after her Boels-Dolmans team dominated the WorldTour. The team won the opening five events, World Champion Lizzie Armitstead winning three of those, and Dutchwoman Chantal Blaak the other two.
Indeed, the team only relinquished leadership of the WorldTour for one week, when eventual Rio Olympic champion, Anna van der Breggen took over after the second race, Ronde van Drenthe, in March.
While her teammates were racking up wins, American road champion Guarnier was always there or there abouts, scoring four top ten finishes in WorldTour races before she won the Amgen Tour of California and the Philadelphia International Cycling Classic, by which time the 31-year-old had 226 point lead in the series.
“It’s a little bit hard for me to believe,” Gaurnier told Cycling Weekly of her overall success.
“For years my goal was to win the World Cup series and now to have won the first WorldTour it’s pretty cool. It’s never easy to win one bike race, if you win one it makes a good season and I’ve won a few, so it’s been a great season.
"It also goes to show the strength of Boels-Dolmans. Everybody contributes and we go into each race trying to figure out how to win it.”
New this year, the WorldTour replaced the World Cup which consisted only of one day races.
This year, however, the top level of women’s racing also contested multi-day events, bringing the number of race days at this level from ten to 35.
“There was a WorldTour race every month, which we didn’t see in the World Cup,” Guarnier continued. “We saw the stage races come into play and that gave a narrative and something to watch throughout the year.”
Having dominated the Spring and won the Aviva Women’s Tour in June, Lizzie Armitstead was the best of the Brits, finishing the classification in third place, despite not starting on Sunday in Madrid.
Dani King was the next best placed home rider, finishing 35th even though she rode the entire season as a domestique.
Largely successful, the WorldTour was not without its faults as some races were nearly invisible on television or even social media.
Publicity for the races was the responsibility of organisers, and it remains to be seen whether the UCI will take action against those events.
In any case it is unlikely the WorldTour will remain the same next year, with rumours of a women’s Amstel Gold Race and the addition and of other races probable.
Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta - 87km - Result
1. Jolien D’hoore (Bel) Wiggle-High5, in 2-01-01
2. Chloe Hosking (Aus) Wiggle-High5
3. Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Alé-Cipollini
4. Chantal Blaak (Ned) Boels-Dolmans
5. Maria Confalonieri (Ita) Lensworld Zannata
6. Carmen Small (USA) Cylance
7. Monique van de Ree (Ned) Lares-Waowdeals
8. Eugenia Bujak (Pol) BTC-Ljubljana
9. Roxane Fournier (Fra) Poitou Charentes-Futurosope
10. Emilie Moberg (Nor) Hitec Products, all same time
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Owen Rogers is an experienced journalist, covering professional cycling and specialising in women's road racing. He has followed races such as the Women's Tour and Giro d'Italia Donne, live-tweeting from Women's WorldTour events as well as providing race reports, interviews, analysis and news stories. He has also worked for race teams, to provide post race reports and communications.
-
Shimano RC703 road shoe review: sleek, stiff and robust
Shimano's second-tier offering combines a rigid carbon sole with handy Boa dials and protective toe caps
By Sam Gupta Published
-
Cycling computers are getting inexplicably big - how did it come to this?
The Wahoo Elemnt Ace is just the latest phone-sized bike computer, and it’s getting a bit silly
By Adam Becket Published
-
'I don’t want to say goodbye to my kids anymore' - Lizzie Deignan to retire at end of 2025
The former world champion, Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix Femmes winner will ride on for one more year with Lidl-Trek
By Adam Becket Published
-
Lizzie Deignan lights up Paris Olympics road race days after 'medical emergency'
Brit says she was 'really struggling today with pain' after finishing a valiant 12th
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tarling, Finucane, Pidcock and more: Eight British riders to watch out for at the Paris Olympics
The cycling events start this weekend, we’ve picked out a handful of riders to keep an eye on in the French capital this summer
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Lizzie Deignan heads up Great Britain team for Tour of Britain Women
Elynor Bäckstedt, Elinor Barker and Anna Henderson also selected for six-rider strong squad
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Four weeks after breaking arm, Lizzie Deignan set to start La Vuelta Femenina
British rider to line up at eight-stage race on Sunday, less than a month on from crash at Tour of Flanders
By Adam Becket Published
-
'I've missed races I was peaking for, but there's plenty of time to be ready': Lizzie Deignan says broken arm won't derail Olympic goals
Deignan set to lead GB team at Tour of Britain Women and target the overall win as she builds for Paris games
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I'll take time to recover then change direction': Lizzie Deignan looks to bounce back after suffering first fracture at Tour of Flanders
Deignan broke her arm during early crash in Sunday's race
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘I remember eating two pizzas and still being hungry’ - Elisa Longo Borghini on the ride that changed her
2022 Paris-Roubaix Femmes winner reflects back on her victory in the 2013 Trofeo Alfreda Binda
By Tom Thewlis Published